Where Did Cain Get His Wife?: What About Inbreeding? Where Did Cain Get His Wife?: What About Inbreeding? Introduction Cain's Wife? After Cain was sent into exile east of Eden for killing Abel he found a wife and built a city. Even if Cain married one of his sisters, doesn't this produce theological and biological problems? Rich Deem The Bible indicates that Adam and Eve's first son, Cain, slew his younger brother Abel because of jealousy over the acceptance of his brother's offering over his own. Immediately after being banished to the east in the land of Nod, Cain found a wife and raised a family and founded a "city" called Enoch. If Cain was the firstborn of Adam and Abel the second, then how could Cain have found a wife and built a city? Creation of humanity The Bible describes the creation of humanity in Genesis, the first book. According to the chapter one account, God created male and female human beings in His image. 1 Chapter two of Genesis goes into more detail about the creation of mankind. According to the narrative, God created Adam, the first man, 2 then, some time later, created Eve. 3 Adam and Eve sinned and were banished from Eden.

4 They produced two sons, Cain and Abel. 5 Both Cain and Abel presented sacrifices to God, but Cain's was rejected, 6 because he expended a half-hearted effort. 7 So, Cain became angry and murdered his brother in a fit of jealousy. 8 Cain is exiled God confronted Cain about the murder of Abel and banished him to the east of Eden. The problem arises in the next verse, where suddenly Cain is married and builds a city: Then Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden. (Genesis 4:16) Cain had relations with his wife and she conceived, and gave birth to Enoch; and he built a city, and called the name of the city Enoch, after the name of his son. (Genesis 4:17) Mesopotamia The assumption seems to be that Cain and Abel were the first two children of Adam and Eve. Although Cain does seem to be the firstborn, the text is not clear that Abel was the second born, but only that he was the second son.

5 Later, the narrative indicates that Adam and Eve produced "other sons and daughters." 9 So, it is possible that Adam and Eve produced daughters between the births of Cain and Abel. It is also likely that others sons and daughters were produced after the birth of Abel. We don't know how old Cain and Abel were when Cain murdered his brother, but they seem to be at least young adults, since they are both engage in a trade for their living. 5 The second thing one notices is Cain's seeming paranoia about being found and revenge being taken against his for killing Abel. 10 The only way this makes sense is if the brothers and sisters of Abel were upset that Cain had killed their brother. Although the period of time between the birth of Cain and the death of Abel is not given in the Bible, it would seem that this period was probably over 100 years, since the birth of Adam's next son, Seth is said to have occurred when Adam was 130 years old. 11 Adam and Eve could have produced many daughters during that period of time. Cain builds a "city" So, the Genesis narrative suggests that Cain had other brothers and sisters when he was exiled by God.

One of those sisters married Cain (or more likely had already been married to Cain when he killed his brother), became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch somewhere east of Eden. The next problem that arises is the claim that Cain "built a city." To us, in the 21st century, this evokes images of skyscrapers and high density housing. However, the original Hebrew word, translated "city," merely had the meaning of a place that was guarded by a watch or with a wall. 12 At its minimum, the Hebrew root referred to an encampment or post. So, it is entirely possible that Cain could have built such a "city." Theological problems Skeptics have pointed out that the only viable solution to the problem of Cain's wife (Cain marrying his sister) suffers from theological problems, since close relations were not allowed to marry according to Jewish law. 13 However, all of these events happened before the law was given. According to the Apostle Paul, when there is no law, there can be no violation of the law or sin. 14 So, since the law against incest was not given until thousands of years later, there was no theological problem with Cain marrying his sister.

Genetic problems Many skeptics object to the idea that Cain married his sister from a scientific viewpoint, since inbreeding leads to the expression of detrimental recessive mutations. This is why punctuated equilibrium does not represent a viable evolutionary mechanism, since species sorting does not really lead to the formation of new species, but to the extinction of the current species. 15 However, scientists have developed completely inbred strains of mice whose individuals are all genetically identical. The process involves selecting out the defects. The resulting strains of mice are regularly interbred and do not suffer from any defects (although scientists also raise strains of inbred mice that possess a single genetic defect, for study). In the same way, I believe that the first two humans were created without genetic defects. Inbreeding among their offspring did not lead to defects until many generations later as spontaneous mutations accumulated. At that point, God instituted laws against incest to minimize the expression of genetic mutations that had developed within our species. Conclusion Is has been shown that the Bible's claim that Cain, the first offspring of Adam and Eve, could have found a wife is found to be plausible if he had chosen among one of his sisters (and he probably had already done so before he murdered Abel).

Since there seems to have been at least 100 years between the birth of Cain and the death of Abel, Adam and Eve would have had plenty of time to produce daughters for Cain to choose from. Brothers and sisters marrying seems to be a theological problem, since the Bible is quite clear that one should not marry a close relative. However, the Jewish laws were not instituted until thousands of years later, so there would have been no prohibition against such marriages at that time. Skeptics also say that such interbreeding would have produced a genetically crippled population. However, if God had created human beings, as the Bible says, then it would be expected that they would have been created without genetic defects. The accumulation of detrimental mutations would taken many generations, at which time God instituted the laws against incest to protect against the majority of these defects.

Related Pages General Rebuttal to the Theory of Evolution References Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth." (Genesis 1:26-28) Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. The LORD God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed.

(Genesis 2:7-8) Then the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him." Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him. So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. The LORD God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man.

(Genesis 2:18-22) Then the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever"-- therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken. So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life. (Genesis 3:22-24) Now the man had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, "I have gotten a manchild with the help of the LORD." Again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. (Genesis 4:1-2) So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the LORD of the fruit of the ground.

Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. (Genesis 4:3-5) By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks. (Hebrews 11:4) For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; not as Cain, who was of the evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother's were righteous. (1 John 3:11-12) Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up?

And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it." (Genesis 4:6-7) Cain called Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him. (Genesis 4:8) Then the days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were eight hundred years, and he had other sons and daughters. (Genesis 5:4) "Behold, You have driven me this day from the face of the ground; and from Your face I will be hidden, and I will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me." (Genesis 4:14) When Adam had lived one hundred and thirty years, he became the father of a son in his own likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth.

(Genesis 5:3) Brown-Driver-Briggs' Hebrew Definitions: Cain Kills Abel and is Banished to Nod Cain Kills Abel and is Banished to Nod by Joshua Tilghman on October 13, 2013 It’s not hard to see that Cain, Adam and Eve’s son, represents the lower self in scripture. Although he comes first, many Bible scholars believe the scripture indicates he was a twin of Abel. The birth of these twins symbolizes the higher and lower aspects of man as a result consciousness leaving Paradise (Adam and Eve’s first act was to procreate after being kicked out of Eden). Cain was also a tiller of the ground. It makes sense that he is tied to the earth. The earth always represents the physical plane and lowest manifestation of consciousness. Cain, then, is naturally tied to it. Beginning with the information just discussed, we can start making more sense of Cain’s fate. I don’t know about you, but I always thought he got off kind of light being the first murderer. As we’ll soon see, his banishment isn’t really a punishment.

Through his banishment, Cain is able to build his own city, has a big family, and makes quite the name for himself! Not a bad life for someone who supposedly murdered his brother, right? Is the scripture really teaching us something else? What is the land of Nod, and why did God protect Cain with a mark and a promise of seven-fold vengeance? Let’s review some scriptures to investigate further. After killing Abel (rejecting God-love for self-love), God exiles Cain to Nod: “…What hast thou done? The voice of thy brother’s blood cries unto me from the ground. And now art thou cursed from the earth…when thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth” (Genesis 4:10-12). So God tells Cain he must go. The very thing that was meant to nourish Cain (the earth) becomes his curse, and instead he has to wander as a vagabond. Literally, God seems to be saying you can’t stay in one place because you can’t get nourishment from tilling the ground anymore.

But this doesn’t really have anything to do with the curse. Cain actually settles down and does quite well for himself. More on that later! The Hebrew words for fugitive and vagabond give the connotation of a scattering. It would be more accurate to say that Cain was scattered from before the LORD’s presence. This scattering (and fragmentation) reveals more of our lower nature and personality. It is the separate sense of “I” that we experience through individual consciousness. It’s both grand and deceptive. It’s grand because we have our own sense of existence. We have the potential to experience thoughts and emotions and well-being. We can go out and express our unique individuality to the world which is a beautiful opportunity as long as it’s done with love and acceptance of what is. But it’s also deceptive because through this opportunity an ego builds which deceives us from the fact that we are really all connected on a spiritual level. Blocks and judgments, which become sort of mental prisons, stifle the limitless creativity we could have access to by tapping into something much larger than our lower egos. But it’s a catch 22!

We need the ego to advance consciousness, but we also need to overcome the ego in order to truly realize that advancement. This is part of what Cain’s story is all about, and it’s another reason why I love the scriptures so much. Nothing is ever black and white. Let’s look at a few more scriptures. “And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he built a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch” (Genesis 4:16-17). Enoch’s name gives further evidence for our conclusions. Enoch means to narrow, dedicate, and train up. Thus Enoch is a symbol of the will to succeed. Just as Enoch is the offspring of Cain, so is the drive to succeed the natural offspring and by-product of the ego and personality. We must survive at all costs. We also need to look at the word Nod. What does this land represent? The Hebrew word for Nod means exile. Nod is the land of exile. It’s not a physical location.

It’s a spiritual one. Many ancient religious myths seek to explain how consciousness was crucified on the plane of matter through physical existence. This story isn’t really that much different. Consciousness is exiled to a limited existence through the three planes of existence in the lower worlds (Nod); respectively, these three planes are the physical, mental, and emotional/astral planes. The fact that Cain was exiled to this land means that Cain is symbolic of our lives manifested on these lower planes. We have all been exiled to Nod. When consciousness fell from Paradise (as symbolized through man’s expulsion from the Garden), it became exiled (limited through the lower planes) from the potential limitless intelligence and energy of God. However, through that limitation we have the opportunity to bring greater self-awareness with us when we return home, back to Paradise. Either way we look at it, the expulsion from Paradise provides the opportunity to expand consciousness. Perhaps this is why the Genesis author doesn’t show God being too hard on Cain for murder! In fact, the Lord actually places a mark on Cain that is symbolic of a permanent protection! What’s that all about? Let’s review the scriptures where Cain complains to the LORD about his punishment.

We’ll also look at God’s response: “Behold, thou has driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that everyone that findeth me shall slay me. And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him shall kill him” (Genesis 4:14-15). So Cain commits murder and God promises to protect him from it! When viewed in proper context, this all makes a lot of sense; God (divine love and wisdom) is pronouncing protection over individuality, so that consciousness can develop from its experiences in the three lower planes. In other words, the love and wisdom of God will protect all the divine sparks sent into the lower planes so that they can rise up and become sons of God, or christs. So what about the mark itself? I believe it represents the permanent aspect of consciousness which allows the personality to unfold from life to life. The Bible would never makes sense without the teaching of reincarnation.

And what about the sevenfold promise of vengeance? God is the only one who is allowed to slay Cain. The slaying of the ego is the job of the higher self, which brings us to the number 7. I believe we can understand this through the events in the Book of Revelation, where the higher self does finally slay the ego. There are seven trumpets of judgment (vengeance) which belong to the LORD. He sends them out upon mankind before the New Jerusalem (higher state of consciousness) can come about. These seven trumpets are the process by which God brings about the final slaying of ego in man. Another way to put it is that the seven trumpets of Revelation are related to the inner awakenings of man to his higher self. Therefore, the Bible comes about full circle: the fall of consciousness beginning in Genesis and its resurrection and union with God in Revelation. God will serve judgment upon the one who kills Cain seven times because there are seven chakras to be opened before man can become fully whole. We must first go to the land of Nod Now let’s put the above conclusions into the context of a scripture that used to puzzle and dishearten me. I think it will mean more to you now.

Consider it below: Romans 9:13: “As it is written, Jacob have I loved, Esau have I hated. What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on who I will have compassion…For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.” When I read this as a literal story I use to wonder if God was being unjust. Why would he create a person who he ultimately knew would rebel against him, and then kill him? Was it really just to show his glory to the earth? Yes and no. He never literally killed Pharaoh. The ego (pharaoh) is raised up and eventually overcome. But the ego was always necessary. God didn’t literally raise up a person to kill just to show forth his glory; he raises up the ego through the three lower planes (land of Nod) so that Israel (and all people on the spiritual path) can eventually make it to the Promised Land.

All the characters in the story show their purpose. As a Christian, I use to want to place certain Biblical characters in the righteous category and the unrighteous category. This is tempting because the many scripture passages themselves literally say this. But the deeper meaning is that all of the characters and what they symbolize are necessary for God’s plan to be complete. And we don’t have to damn the unrighteous characters to hell in the process! { 10 comments… read them below or add one } Vernon October 15, 2013 at 9:32 pm Joshua I appreciate this because I explain to people that my first awakening with God didn’t come from sitting in Church or from reading scriptures. It came from me hitting bottom ( the fall of consciousness) in life and calling out to Him. He saved me and that started my relationship (resurrection) with Him. Now with the help of this blog, the Holy Spirit is beginning to show me the spirit of the scriptures. Thanks! anny October 16, 2013 at 9:01 am Hello Joshua, You write: But it’s a catch 22!

We need the ego to advance consciousness, but we also need to overcome the ego in order to truly realize that advancement. I think it is not a catch 22 at all, like nachash – mashiach, and both meanings of the verb ‘rd’ (to descend into and absorb – to ascend out of and to master), it is two sides of the coin of evolution. It is the process. You cannot have one side without the other. And Abel and Cain are also two sides of the coin of course. The killing of Abel is the same as becoming blind to the meaning of oneness/unity and waking up to the sight of everything duality has to offer (fragmentation) which is necessary to become consciously aware of everything and then to return to oneness and unity again. It is the same concept popping up again and again in a different guise and by starting to recognize the images as such we become aware of the process. anny October 16, 2013 at 9:02 am I meant the coin of involution and evolution.

Reply james July 10, 2014 at 7:37 pm thanks alot for your blog enjoyed it very much .have you ever thought that ammons horn in your brain is the shofar the jews blow.it connects the right and left hemisphere of the brain..most dont even know know that the sign symbol for rock and roll is the horn .the so called gods and goddesses of egypt or kemit had them on top of their heads with the disk in the middle..peace love and light.. james July 10, 2014 at 7:38 pm oops and also the 7 s trumpets that are blown in the revelation.. martin September 9, 2015 at 11:10 pm Aproach the throne boldly. But have the faith of a child Cain slew Abel. Cain slew Abel. A retelling of the true account of Cain and Abel found in the Holy Authorized King James Bible book of Genesis chapter four.

Authorized King James Version of 1611 Keywords: Bible story, God, Adam, Eve, wife, garden, Eden, creation, tree of life, tree of knowledge of good and evil, serpent, sin, sweat of thy face, the Bible story of Adam and Eve THE FIRST CHILD, CAIN, IS BORN. After Adam and Eve were driven out of the garden of Eden, Adam knew his wife Eve and she bore a man child named Cain-- Genesis 4:1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord. CAIN'S BROTHER, ABEL, IS BORN. Eve again bare, Cain's brother, Abel. Genesis 4:2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. THE TWO BROTHERS BROUGHT OFFERINGS Cain and Abel brought forth offerings to offer to the Lord. Genesis 4:3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. 4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof.

And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. 6 And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. God had respect to Abel and to his offering but the Lord had not respect unto Cain and his offering. We can't just bring whatever we want to to God and we cannot just expect him to accept us if we are not doing what is right. 1 John 3:12 teaches us that Cain's works were evil. Instead of changing his ways, Cain got mad and upset because he was not accepted. He wanted God to accept him as he was even though he was evil and not doing what was right. CAIN SLEW ABEL Cain let his anger burn.

Instead of repenting of his sins, he got mad at his brother and killed him when they were in the field-- Genesis 4:8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. He that is of the devil committeth sin. 1 John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. Christians--people who have repented of their sins and believed on the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ--should love one another and do good one to another. The Bible tells us that Cain slew Abel because Cain's own works were evil and his brother's works were righteous-- 1 John 3:11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

1 John 3:12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. 1 John 3:13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. 1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 1 John 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 1 John 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. CAIN IS CURSED After Cain killed Abel, the LORD asked Cain where Abel was. God saw Cain when he killed Abel and questioned Cain. Cain lied and said that he did not know where Abel was. The blood of Abel cried to God from the ground. God cursed Cain from the earth. Genesis 4:9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother?

And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? 10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. 11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand; 12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. 13 And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear. 14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me. 15 And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.

16 And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. THE WAY OF CAIN The Bible teaches us that the wicked walk in the way of Cain. Murderers, liars, and other evil doers will be punished. Filthy dreamers defile their flesh by doing evil, they despise God's rules, and they speak evil of the things that are good and right. They somehow let themselves believe that they will get away with doing evil, this is not true. People who believe this are only dreaming--dreams are not real. God is just and sin will be punished. Jude 1:8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. Jude 1:9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. Jude 1:10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

Jude 1:11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. Jude 1:12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; Jude 1:13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. Jude 1:14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, Jude 1:15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

Jude 1:16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage. Jude 1:17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; Jude 1:18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. Jude 1:19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. Jude 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Jude 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Jude 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: Jude 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Jude 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, Jude 1:25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. The Bible teaches us that we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God-- Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; The Bible teaches us that the wages of sin is death-- Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. The Bible teaches us that God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (a change of mind deciding to follow God's holy ways)-- 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord-- Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. THERE ARE SCOFFERS WHO WALK AFTER THEIR OWN LUSTS The Bible tells us that in these last days there are scoffers who are walking after their own lusts. Scorners mock and dislike righteous things because they like to do evil things. Scorners act like the Lord is not coming back--but the Lord Jesus is coming back. In about 2400 BC, the world was flooded in the days of Noah. This next time when the Lord Jesus comes back, 2 Peter 3:10 ...the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. The earth and all the works therein (houses, pools, buildings, airplanes, etc.) is going to be burned up when the Lord Jesus Christ comes back.

The people that love Jesus and being saved need to stay ready to meet the Lord--they need to be careful so that they do not follow the ways of the wicked. We are to continue to grow in the grace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. When he comes back for his people, he will judge the wicked and the righteous will live for him for evermore with singing and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. The apostle Peter stirs up our remembrance about the last days in 2 Peter 3-- 2 Peter 3:1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: 2 Peter 3:2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: 2 Peter 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 2 Peter 3:4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming?

for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 2 Peter 3:5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 2 Peter 3:6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 2 Peter 3:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 2 Peter 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 2 Peter 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 2 Peter 3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 2 Peter 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 2 Peter 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

2 Peter 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 2 Peter 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. 2 Peter 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. 2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. Cain and Abel: Scriptures and Legends scriptures and legends Cain and Abel The First Book of Moses, called Genesis And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.

And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand; When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me. And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him. And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.

Source: Genesis 4:1-17, King James version. Link to the entire King James Bible (Internet Sacred Text Archive). The Story of the Two Sons of Adam The Quran Recite to them the story of the two sons of Adam; truly when they offered an offering, and it was accepted from one of them, and was not accepted from the other, that one said, "I will surely kill thee;" he said, "God only accepts from those who fear. If thou dost stretch forth to me thine hand to kill me, I will not stretch forth mine hand to kill thee; verily, I fear God, the Lord of the worlds; verily, I wish that thou mayest draw upon thee my sin and thy sin, and be of the fellows of the Fire, for that is the reward of the unjust." But his soul allowed him to slay his brother, and he slew him, and in the morning he was of those who lose. And God sent a crow to scratch in the earth and show him how he might hide his brother's shame, he said, "Alas, for me!

Am I too helpless to become like this crow and hide my brother's shame?" and in the morning he was of those who did repent. Source: The Qur'ān , 5:30-34, translated by E. H. Palmer (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1880), p. 101 . In more recent translations of The Quran the division into verses of this passage is given as 5:27-31. The title of the sacred book of Islam is variously Romanised as Koran, Quran, Qur'an, or Qur'ān. Kabil and Habil Palestine Kabil and Habil, or Cain and Abel, with their two sisters, were the first children born to Adam and Eve. Adam, by Allah's direction, ordered Cain to marry Abel's twin sister, and that Abel should marry Cain's, for it being the common opinion that marriages ought not to take place with those very near akin, such as their own sisters, it seemed reasonable to supose that they ought to take those of the remoter degree, but this Cain refused to, because his sister was the handsomer.

Hereupon Adam told them to take their offerings to Allah, thereby referring the dispute to His determination. Cain's offering was a sheaf of the very worst of his corn, but Abel's a fat lamb of the best of his flock. Allah having declared His acceptance of the latter in a visible manner, Cain said to his brother, "I will certainly kill you." Abel was the stronger of the two, and would easily have prevailed against his brother, but he answered, "If you stretch forth your hand against me, to slay me, I will not stretch forth my hand against you to slay you, for I fear Allah, the Lord of all creatures." So Cain began to consider in what way he should effect the murder, and as he was doing so, the devil appeared to him in human shape, and showed him how to do it, by crushing the head of a bird between two stones. Cain, having committed the fratricide, became exceedingly troubled in his mind, and carried the dead body on his shoulders for a considerable time, not knowing where to conceal it, till it stank horribly.

And then Allah taught him to bury it by the example of a raven, who, having killed another raven in his presence, dug a pit with his claws and beak and buried him therein. Source: J. E. Hanauer, Folk-Lore of the Holy Land: Moslem, Christian, and Jew (London: Duckworth and Company, 1907), pp. 69-70 . Stylistically slightly revised by D. L. Ashliman. Cain and Abel Turkey It is related that when our mother Eve bare Cain and Abel, she bare a daughter along with each. God Most High commanded the Messenger Adam, saying, "For the sake of their offspring, give to Cain the girl born with Abel, and give to Abel the girl born with Cain." The Messenger Adam did so. Now the girl born with Cain was exceeding fair; and Cain said, "O father, let the girl born with him be his, and let the girl born with me be mine." Adam answered, "God Most High commanded otherwise." But Cain loved that girl exceedingly; so he went and slew Abel. Thus because of a woman was blood first shed upon the ground.

Source: The History of the Forty Vezirs; or, The Story of the Forty Morns and Eves , written in Turkish by Sheykh-Zada, translated into English by E. J. W. Gibb (London: George Redway, 1886), p. 395 . This book is the translation of a manuscript prepared apparently in the early seventeenth century, but based on much older stories, similar in style and function to those found in the 1001 Nights. Cain and Abel Turkey (Armenian) One day Eve called to her Cain and Abel, who, still little children, were playing on the grass. She held out to her firstborn her right arm, and to her second son her left, and said, "Bite them, I command you." The elder boy bit till he drew blood, but Abel merely imprinted a long lingering kiss on his mother's arm. Then said Eve to her husband, "Our Cain will be a wicked man." Adam and Eve loved Abel dearly. Cain was jealous of their partiality. He wished to kill his brother, but knew not how.

Satan took the form of a raven, picked a quarrel with another raven, and in Cain's presence cut his opponent's throat with a pointed black pebble. Cain picked up the stone, hid it in his girdle, proposed to his brother a walk on the mountain, and there cut his throat with the pebble. The peasants of Armenia to this day call flints "Satan's nails," and conscientiously break every pointed black one they may find. Cain, after his crime, dared not return to his parents; the blood of his brother still adhered to his hands. In vain did he hold them all day long immersed in a neighboring spring; the stain was still there. Night came on, and, not being able to sleep, he wandered long and far, seeking a waterfall. Guided at last to one by the noise of its waters in the still night, he lay down on the bank and held his reddened hands under the cascade. There he held them, day and night, summer and winter, during a whole year, without sleep and without food, but at the end of that time they were still as crimson as on the day of the crime.

And so long as Cain lived, he was never able to get rid of the proof of his fratricide. Abel and Cain Italy They were two brothers. Abel greatly loved Cain, but Cain did not love so much the brother Abel. Cain had no great will to work. Abel, however, on the contrary, was greatly disposed (si ingegnava) to labor, because he had found it profitable. He was industrious in all, and at last became a grazier (mercante di manzi. And Cain also, being moved by jealousy (per astia), wished to become a grazier, but the wheel did not turn for him as it did for Abel. And Cain also was a good man, and set himself contentedly to work, believing that he could become as rich as his brother, but he did not succeed in this, for which reason he became so envious of Abel that it resulted in tremendous hate, and he swore to be revenged. Cain often visited his brother, and once said to him, "Abel, thou art rich and I am poor.

Give me the half of thy wealth, since thou wishest me so well!" Then Abel replied, "If I give thee a sum which thou thyself couldst gain by industry, thou shouldst still labor as I do, and I will give thee nothing, since, if thou wilt work as I do, thou wilt become as rich." One day there were together Cain, Abel, and a merchant, whose name I forget. And one told that he had seen in a dream seven fat oxen and seven lean. And the merchant, who was an astrologer or wizard, explained that the seven fat oxen meant seven years of abundance, and the seven lean as many years of famine. And so it came to pass as he foretold -- seven years of plenty and seven of famine.

And Cain, hearing this, thought, "During the seven years of plenty Abel will lay by a great store, and then I will slay him, and possess myself of all his goods, and thus I will take care of myself, and my brother will be dead." Now, Cain greatly loved God; he was good towards God, more so than Abel, because Abel, having become rich, never spoke more unto the Lord; and Abel would gladly have become a wizard himself. Then Cain began to think how he could slay Abel and become a merchant in his place, and so went forth to cut wood. One day he called his brother Abel, and said to him, "Thou art so rich, while I am poor, and all my work avails me little." And with that he gave Abel a blow with a knife, and dressed himself in his garments, and took a bundle of thorns on his back, and thus clad he took Abel's place as a merchant, believing that no one would recognize him as Cain. And while thus buying and selling he met the merchant-wizard who had foretold the seven years of famine and of abundance.

And he said, "Oh, good day, Abel," to make Cain believe that he was not discovered. But the oxen who were present all began to chant in chorus: Do not call that person Abel; It is Cain, do you not see it? Cain who, for the greed of money, Treacherously slew his brother, And then clad him in his garments. Now, O Cain! thou wilt be summoned Speedily unto the presence Of the Lord, who had condemned thee Unto death for thy great avarice. Cain came before God. O great God of endless mercy, Thou who art so good and mighty, Grant, I pray thee, grant me pardon For the good I did while living! Truly once, but for an instant, I forgot myself, but deeply I since then have long repented That I slew my brother Abel. But God replied: A punishment thou shalt have because thou didst slay thy brother from a desire to become rich. Likewise thou didst meddle with witchcraft and sorceries, as did thy brother. And Abel made much money and was very rich, because he did not love God, but sorcerers.

Albeit, ever good he never did evil things, and many good, wherefore God pardoned him. But thou shalt not be pardoned because thou didst imbrue thy hands in human blood, and, what is worse, in thy own brother's blood. The punishment which I inflict is this: The thorns which thou didst put upon thy brother are now for thee. Thou shalt be imprisoned in the moon, and from that place shalt behold the good and the evil of all mankind. And the bundle of thorns shall never leave thee, and every time when anyone shall conjure thee, the thorns shall sting thee cruelly. They shall draw thy blood. And thus shalt thou be compelled to do that which shall be required of thee by the sorcerers or by conjuring, and if they ask of thee that which thou wilt not give, then the thorns shall goad thee until the sorceries shall cease. Source: Charles Godfrey Leland (Hans Breitmann) Legends of Florence , collected from the people and retold, first series (London: David Nutt; and New York: Macmillan and Company, 1895), pp. 263-66 .

Breitmann's source: "Taken down from an old dame." The First Grave Poland Adam and Eve were standing on the bank of a brook, and before them lay the corpse of Abel, who had been killed by Cain. As they sat there, not knowing what they should do with the corpse, suddenly a little bird fell from a nearby tree. The little bird was still very young and could not fly. The fall killed it. Adam and Eve looked at the dead bird and saw that it was a raven. Soon the old raven flew by, and when he saw that his young one was dead, he scratched a hole in the ground with his feet, and laid it inside. Then he scratched the hole full and flew away. Adam and Eve observed all this and followed the raven's example. They made a hole in the earth, laid Abel's corpse in it, and covered it with earth. This was the first human grave. Source: Otto Knoop, "Das erste Grab," Ostmärkische Sagen, Märchen und Erzählungen (Lissa: Oskar Eulitz' Verlag, 1909), no. 73, p. 149. Translated by D. L.

Ashliman. © 2000.

Question: Which land was Cain banished to after he slew Abel?
Answer: LAND OF NOD